Mangudadatu: Ampatuans still have clout, but the mayors are with me

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, whose family was victimized by last year’s infamous Ampatuan massacre, said on Thursday that while the rival Ampatuan clan still has a strong hold over the province, he now has the support of all Maguindanao mayors. In an interview with GMA's morning news program “Unang Hirit," Mangudadatu said he was not surprised by a GMA News Research report showing that his rival clan was the biggest winner in the May 10 automated elections. (See: Ampatuan clan the biggest winner in May 2010 polls) Despite the November 23, 2009 massacre, where 57 people including Mangudadatu’s wife and several close kin were killed allegedly by members and followers of the Ampatuans, the influence of the powerful clan has gone beyond the boundaries of Maguindanao, Mangudadatu claimed. "Mayroon pa rin [silang impluwensiya]... Hindi lang sa lugar namin, even in Metro Manila ganoon pa rin (They still have influence… Not just in our area, but likewise even in Metro Manila.) It's because of the huge amount of money they possess right now," he said. Based on a study on the winners and losers in the May elections, at least 15 members of the Ampatuan clan secured electoral victories — the biggest numerical gain achieved by any clan in the Philippines in the 2010 elections. Mayors' support Mangudadatu however expressed confidence that despite the Ampatuans’ clout, he has the support of all the municipal mayors in Maguindanao. "I had a meeting with all the mayors last week. And they signified and even committed that they will support my administration," he said, adding that these local chiefs previously supported the Ampatuans but have since shifted to his camp. Asked if these shifts in alliances were merely political turncoatism, Mangudadatu shrugged off the distinction, saying that politics is a matter of "come and go." “Maybe yes (I will believe them) or maybe not," he said. Ampatuans: influential but also split Mangudadatu noted that Ampatuan clan members facing murder charges can still use cell phones to communicate with their relatives even while in detention. Earlier, Suwaib Upham, self-confessed gunman in the massacre and a would-be witness, reportedly refused to be interviewed at the Department of Justice in Manila for government protection, after claiming that the Ampatuans had allies in the agency. He was killed last June in Maguindanao. Despite these indications of the Ampatuans’ persistent influence, Mangudadatu stressed that the clan also suffers from internal conflicts — with some supporting the clan patriarch Andal Sr. while others do not. "Hindi lahat ng Ampatuan ay kakampi ni Andal (Not all Ampatuans are allied with Andal Sr.)," Mangudadatu said. The governor even recounted one incident when Andal Sr. allegedly ordered the killing of one of his own nephews. In the GMA “Unang Hirit" interview, Mangudadatu also revealed that he had met with President Benigno Aquino III a few days ago, and asked the President to focus on solving the Ampatuan massacre case. Not corrupt Mangudadatu said he did not mind speculations that his clan could just end up following in the footsteps of the Ampatuans and eventually become Maguindanao’s dominant “warlords," since he would merely use these accusations to remind himself not to succumb to corruption. "Gusto ko nga marinig yang ganyan. It's very challenging para hindi po natin magawa ang ganyang mga trabaho (Actually, I want to hear these kinds of talk. It's very challenging, so that we can avoid those practices)," he said. Asked to categorically state that he would not steal money from the government, Mangudadatu replied: "Dati na po matino ang pamilya namin (Our family has been righteous from way back)."—JV, GMANews.TV